Oratio Divina

A short prayer asking the Lord’s light to awaken the sleeping, bring life to the dead, and shine salvation into every shadow.

A short prayer asking God for the grace to love others as He loves—seeing, forgiving, and serving with humility until only love remains.

When you have no homein this worldwhen you have no homein your homewhen you have no homein your hope and fearyou have a homeforever in Christwho will wash your feetheal your woundsshare your burdensgive you restHe is the Wordwritten upon your heartand that word is love ~Robert Van Valkenburgh

Every poema prayerat the altarof inspirationa requesta responsea recognitionto and ofthat which is givennever takenonly receivedan act of grace and beautyfrom and forthe divine sourceof all and all ~Robert Van Valkenburgh

I have wanted so badlyto belong in this worldto have a home hereto find rest in this placeand there have been momentsever so briefwhere I have felt this joywhere I have been at peacebut this broken worldis not where I belongit is not my homein this placein this bodyI will find no restbut only…

The leaves of changesignal the quiet departureof summer’s warmthbeckoning inthe cool winter windsbringing us togetherto gatherand huddlearound one anotherfor it is not goodfor any one of usto be aloneand when we gatherfor His sakewe are not alone ~Robert Van Valkenburgh

I want to rejectthis feelingI want to runaway from fearbut I must pursuethis holy longingthough it maytear me apartthough it mayshake me to piecesfor I believeGod’s promisenow and forever ~Robert Van Valkenburgh

Heavenly FatherI hear your whispersthe word upon my heartI see the winkof your divine eyeI feel you smiling upon mewhen you are pleasedand you want nothing lessthan for me to sharein your eternal joywhy I strayremains a mysteryand so I pray ~Robert Van Valkenburgh

Releaseyour possessionswhispers the Lordcome to metrust in mefollow meabide in melet go of allthat you hold dearfor I am enough ~Robert Van Valkenburgh

Entering a new seasonof the spiritstepping outin faithas if I had a choiceI know I have a choiceand yet I have no choicelove and lightgrace and mercyHe guides and protect mebut not from the fearthat is mineto hold or let go ~Robert Van Valkenburgh